As we age, both appearance and health begin to change. At a certain point, the muscles weaken and we cannot run or grasp as before. This measurement, say researchers from the University of Michigan, is an indicator of how old we are. According to research, the less grip we have, the faster we age. The team of authors said their new published findings show that grip strength corresponds to a phenomenon known as the epigenetic clock.
WATCHED FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS
The team analyzed data from nearly 1,300 people aged 50 and over; this group was then followed for about eight to 10 years. In conclusion, the team wrote: “Our findings provide some initial evidence of age acceleration and loss of strength over time among men and women with lower NGS (Normalized Grip Strength). Preservation of muscle strength protects against DNAm age acceleration, positively promoting healthy aging. can affect it.”
GRIP POWER CAN MEDIATE EARLY DEATH
“The extent to which DNAm age mediates the association between cognition and chronic disease, disability, and premature death may also mediate the association between cognition of lifestyle/behavioral factors (e.g., physical activity and nutritional status) and accelerated/slowed DNAm age.”
EXERCISE AND HEALTHY NUTRITION CAN IMPROVE GRIP STRENGTH
Professor Mark Peterson said: “Grip strength has long been recognized as a biomarker of aging. However, few studies have attempted to understand the biological mechanisms that associate weakness with adverse health outcomes (including death). It’s likely to be related to lifestyles, such as eating habits.”
MUSCLE WEAKNESS IS RELATED TO DISEASES
“On the downside, poor grip strength is likely to be associated with obesity-related chronic conditions, other noncommunicable diseases, and sedentary lifestyles.” Besides an overall loss in grip strength, they also noted a difference between men and women. Dr Peterson explained: “We also recently showed that muscle weakness and testosterone deficiency are highly correlated and independently associated with multiple disease in young and old men.
DO CONDITIONS ACCELERATE AGING?
Yes, some conditions accelerate the aging rate. This includes type 2 diabetes. According to a recent study published in May of this year, diabetes accelerates brain aging. The analysis was performed on 20,000 people using UK Biobank data, and a link was observed between diabetes and increased neurodegeneration. They estimated that brain aging was accelerated by about 26 percent.
TYPE 2 DIABETES STARTS YEARS AGO
The study’s primary author, Botond Antal, told eLife: “The neurological effects of type 2 diabetes can manifest many years before they can be detected by standard measures, so when type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with conventional testing, it may appear that patients have already suffered permanent and irreversible brain damage. ”